Call for Papers: Special Issue. Theme: African PR Professionals and the C-Suite: Successes, Prospects, Limitations, and Implications

Announcement

Call for Papers: Special Issue of the Journal of Communications, Media and Society (JOCMAS)

Theme: African PR Professionals and the C-Suite: Successes, Prospects, Limitations, and Implications

Introduction and Rationale

The field of public relations (PR) in Africa has witnessed remarkable evolution in recent decades (Watkins, 2024), driven by digital transformation, entrepreneurial energy, and shifting socio-political dynamics. As PR professionals increasingly take on roles in shaping corporate narratives, influencing public perception, and guiding strategic decisions (Blankson & Anani-Bossman, 2023), their potential to contribute to executive leadership has never been greater.

Yet, despite this progress, many African PR practitioners remain underrepresented in the C-suite—executive-level positions where strategic influence is most potent. Research suggests this disparity stems from factors such as limited organisational appreciation of PR’s strategic value, inadequate professional training, and systemic organisational cultures that relegate PR to a technical or supportive function (Neill, 2015). These constraints not only limit professional advancement but also deprive organisations of the unique value PR professionals offer in areas like stakeholder engagement, crisis communication, and reputation management.

This special issue of the Journal of Communications, Media and Society (JOCMAS) aims to explore the successes, barriers, and future pathways for African PR professionals seeking access to the C-suite. It seeks to generate contextually grounded insights that can inform PR education, professional development, organisational policy, and broader leadership discourse on the continent.

For academics, practitioners, policymakers, and students, this special issue offers a timely and impactful platform for rethinking leadership in PR from a Global South perspective.

Themes and Topics of Interest

We welcome submissions that engage with, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Systemic Barriers to C-Suite Access

Investigations into the structural, institutional, or cultural factors limiting PR professionals’ rise to executive-level roles in African organisations.

• Pathways to Overcoming Systemic Barriers

Case studies or analyses of individual and institutional strategies that have enabled PR professionals to break into senior leadership positions.

• Skills, Education, and Capacity Gaps

Exploration of the role of formal education, professional training, and skills development in preparing PR practitioners for C-suite responsibilities.

• The Role of PR in Strategic Decision-Making

Empirical or conceptual papers analysing how PR contributes (or is excluded from) strategic and executive decision-making processes in organisations.

• Gender and Diversity in PR Leadership

Research that interrogates how intersectional factors—such as gender, race, and ethnicity—impact leadership opportunities in the PR profession.

• Future Prospects and Strategic Recommendations

Forward-looking studies offering models, frameworks, or policy recommendations to strengthen PR’s leadership role in African institutions.

• Success Stories in African PR and the C-Suite

Empirically grounded narratives or interviews showcasing the experiences of African PR professionals who have achieved C-suite or senior leadership positions.

Submission Guidelines

All submissions must adhere to the JOCMAS Author Guidelines.

Manuscripts must be original and unpublished. All submissions will undergo a double-blind peer review process.

Timelines

Manuscript Submission Deadline: 31st January 2026

Peer Review Feedback Due: 31st March 2026

Revised Submissions Due: 31st May 2026

Final Acceptance Notifications: 30th June 2026

Issue Publication Date: August 2026

How to Submit

Submit your manuscript through the JOCMAS’s submission platform at: https://jocmas.unimac.edu.gh/index.php/jocmas/about/submissions

For submission-related questions, contact any of the Guest Editors 

Meet the Guest Editors

1. Dr. Noel Nutsugah

Department of Public Relations,

University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), Ghana.

Email: nnutsugah@unimac.edu.gh

2. Dr. Eric Kwame Adae

School of Journalism and Mass Communication,

Drake University, USA.

Email: eric.adae@drake.edu

3. Prof. Dalien Rene Benecke

School of Communication,

University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Email: rbenecke@uj.ac.za

References

Blankson, I. A., & Anani-Bossman, A. A. (2023). Future of Public Relations in Africa: A Case for Rethinking Inquiry and Practice. In A. A. Anani-Bossman, T. E. Mudzanani, C. B. Pratt, & I. A. Blankson (Eds.), Public Relations Management in Africa Volume 2: The Practical, the Conceptual and the Empirical (pp. 245–257). Palgrave Macmillan.

Neill, M. S. (2015). Beyond the c-suite: corporate communications’ power and influence. Journal of Communication Management, 19(2), 118–132. https://doi.org/10.1108/jcom-06-2013-0046

Watkins, B. (2024). The state of public relations research in Africa. In A. W. Njathi & B. Watkins (Eds.), Digital Public Relations and Marketing Communication Trends in Africa (pp. 12–28). Routledge.